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Cameo Portrait of Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1848)

Collection Type

  • Jewelry

Date

1849

GUSN

GUSN-101931

Description

This large shell cameo features a profile portrait of Harrison Gray Otis. The cameo is set in an egg and dart gold mount surmounted by an applied gold bow.

Details

Descriptive Terms

cameos
conch (shell)
gold (metal)
cameos
Sculpture
Relief
Cameo
Cameo

Inscription

"J. A. Greenough / Boston, Mass / 1849." (Signed)

Additional Identification Number

1382

Maker

Greenough, John A. (Sculptor)

Location of Origin

Massachusetts

Dimensions

3 1/2 x 2 3/8 (HxW) (inches)

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. J. Le Roy White

Accession Number

1920.730

Exhibition Notes

"Hidden Treasures from Elegant Eras," Historic Jewelry from the Collections of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities presented by Shreve, Crump & Low, September 15 - November 30, 1995. "Jewelry at Historic New England," Online exhibit presented by Historic New England launched September 30, 2007 at www.historicnewengland.org/jewelryhistory/.

Reference Notes

For information on cameos see Bennett, David and Daniela Mascetti, "Understanding Jewellery," (1989); Bury, Shirley, "Jewellery, 1789-1910," v. 1 (1991): 215-232; Fales, Martha Gandy, "Jewelry in America, 1600-1900," (1995): 227-236; Miller, Anna M. "Cameos Old & New," 3rd Edition (2005). For more information on mourning jewelry see Bury, Shirley, "Jewellery, 1789-1910," v. 2 (1991): 657-710; Deutsch, Davida Tenebaum, "Jewelry for mourning, love, and fancy, 1770-1830," "The Magazine Antiques" (April 1999): 566-575; Fales, Martha Gandy, "Jewelry in America, 1600-1900," (1995): 23-31.

Date

1849 (dated on verso)

Places

Massachusetts (United States)
Boston (Suffolk county, Massachusetts)

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